Georgia’s integration with the EU is not just a core foreign policy priority but has become a part of our national identity - Foreign Minister

Georgian Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze received representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in Georgia.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the meeting was attended by the Deputy Foreign Ministers and the heads of various departments. Mikheil Janelidze acquainted the diplomats with the objectives of the Georgian Foreign Ministry and the priorities of Georgia’s foreign policy. He spoke about the importance of Georgia’s integration with the European Union, which “is not just a core foreign policy priority of Georgia but has become a part of our national identity, because of the sense of belonging to the European system of values. Besides, the Georgian people believe that secure, stable and democratic development of the country can be assured only within the European and Trans-Atlantic area” - Mikheil Janelidze said.

Special attention was paid to the restoration of Georgia’s territorial integrity, as the main challenge facing the Georgian Government, and in this context, the importance of Georgia’s constructive participation in the Geneva International Discussions. The Georgian Foreign Minister also spoke about the need of confidence-building and engagement of the international community in the process of reconciliation with Abkhazians and Ossetians.

Mikheil Janelidze highlighted the successes achieved in the course of 2015, including the Association Agreement signed with the EU, including DCFTA, the European Commission’s positive assessment of the Visa Liberalization Action Plan of Georgia in its final progress report, the NATO-Georgia Joint Training and Evaluation Centre, which a significant step forward.

Mikheil Janelidze identified economic diplomacy as one of the top priorities of the Georgian Foreign Ministry. He emphasized that Georgia has the potential of being turned into a hub linking Europe with the growing East Asian markets. In this context the Minister spoke about the importance of the revitalization of the historic "Silk Road. The Silk Road Forum held in Tbilisi in 2015 served this very goal. The Forum will contribute to deepening the cooperation of the Silk Road countries in the fields of transport, communication, infrastructure, trade, energy and industry.

On the final note, Mikheil Janelidze thanked the representatives of the diplomatic corps for their activities in Georgia, adding that diplomats play an important role in terms of fulfilling the priority goals on Georgia’s agenda, including by promoting democratic reforms and European and Euro-Atlantic integration. Mikheil Janelidze congratulated the participants of the meeting on the New Year and hosted a reception in their honour.